In response to John Miller:  At around 1922 QRS started buying up its
competition; Imperial was first.  At first they did not dabble too much
with the arrangements, but by 1925 very often they would have some
extra introductions and fillers cut and they would replace some of
these parts.  But the main bodies of a song would be the same as QRS.

Then they bought U.S. Music and the same thing would happen to them.
I would love to have heard "My Blue Heaven" as arranged by Horace O.
Prell or Carl Ober, but QRS had already bought them, and as soon as
they did so U.S. became another poor cousin.  Also QRS (as Imperial
Industries) made rolls for Gimbels, Weile Special, Symphony -- who
knows who else -- using the same roll but a different box label.

Later QRS put double numbers on the roll and all they had to do was put
either an Imperial label on it or a QRS label; the number on the roll
took care of both.

Atlas rolls made Atlas, Landay, Radio, Acme and Ritz.  All of these are
the same Atlas roll.  Staffnote made Playrite, Hitz, Staffnote and others.

Nearly everyone sold rolls in those days: jewelry stores, furniture
stores, music stores, department stores, appliance stores, etc.  Many
of these stores wanted their own labels, so the factory put something
special on the box just for them.  If the box is missing there is no
clue on the roll and if the tune info on the leader is torn off there
is really no clue.

I have read comments about arrangements being 'organistic'.  Well,
I submit to you they were.  The factories wanted to get the most mileage
out of a master so after a certain time they made the arrangement
suitable for every medium of the day: Fotoplayers, nickelodeons, and
player pianos with and without damper devices, etc.  Ampico did this
to some extent in regards to the damper device.

There are superb arrangements out there, some much much better than,
say, Pete Wendling.  He also did some sublime stuff.  I have an
"Alcoholic Blues" played by Clarence Jones that really puts the others
to shame (in my opinion).

There's something out there for everyone, but look at the roll: look at
the way it's punched, and look at the printing of the words.  Usually
you can tell if it's the same company.

How many of you are aware that there are _two_ distinct arrangements of
QRS 995, with the same label info, with the sole difference of one
having only _one_ artist.  QRS 1938 also has two versions with the same
number.

Sincerely,

Jerry F. Bacon